New month, new portfolio.  Last Saturday, PN Leader Dr Adrian Delia allocated new roles and responsibilities to each and every one of us sitting on the Opposition’s benches.  I have been given the responsibility of shadowing capital projects, planning and the property market.  I am very well aware of the big responsibility that I have been tasked and entrusted with – not only because it is in itself a big portfolio, not only because it is the subject of many a controversy and differing opinion, but also because all thedecisions taken during this legislature (or lack of) on these subject matters will have a direct effect onMalta’s and Gozo’s future.

Ours is a beautiful country - our magnificent walled towns, our quiet rural villages, our bustling shopping districts and business centres, our areas of natural beauty, our seaside localities and much more.  However, we must also acknowledge that we have our eye-sores as well – dilapidated areas, ugly structures, irrational development, ruined natural habitats.  And I cannot not mention the lack of insensitivity when it comes to the appreciation and preservation of the architecture that makes up our identity.  Time is running out and as a country we cannot afford to make any more mistakes.  I want to see well-designed buildings and spaces that provide a sense of place and identity - I want to see quality rather than simply quantity.

Let me be clear.  I am all for promoting and stimulating economic activity.  However, I want to see it done properly. Planning is key.  A proper understanding of the property market alongside the carrying capacity of the country are key.  The timely identification and implementation of capital projects is key.

We need to be creative, innovative and avant-garde.  We need to seriously start thinking out-of-the-box.  We need to start appreciating what makes us unique, what distinguishes us from other countries and make sure that this uniqueness is integrated in Malta’s development.This is easier said than done, but it can be achieved.  It can be achieved with the right attitude, a determined drive to succeed, a passion for innovation and a sincere collaboration across the board by all stakeholders.

Malta and Gozo’s success story will depend on whether we will be capable to achieve the above.  We must adopt what I like to describe as ‘fit for the future approach’ – we must think about building liveable environments for everyone.  The ‘build it and they will come approach’ is no longer sustainable, if it ever was.

Last Saturday, I was walking down the aisles of a local supermarket when I was approached by a young youth who introduced herself as Martina.  We exchanged a couple of minutes talking about local politics and at one point Martina made an intriguing suggestion which I would like to share with my fellow members of parliament sitting on both sides of the House.  Martina told me, “We buy land to erect buildings. Why not buy land to also build back some green infrastructure which we desperately need more of?”  Her statement got me thinking.  Martina is the immediate future and today’s political decisions should not jeopardise Martina’s future and those who come after. 

We need to think in terms of a stimulating a sustainable economy.  We need to think green.  We need to think in terms of liveability.  We need to think holistically. 

We need to take bold decisions.  We need to take decisions which are not in any way hindered or prejudiced by hidden interests.

And we need to think beyond.

Marthese Portelli is PN spokesperson for Capital Projects, Planning and Property Market